Conservative commentator Allen West has condemned Fox News political pundit Juan Williams for his "disparaging remark" that Marine Sergeant Andrew Tahmooressi's imprisonment in a Mexican jail "is not a serious issue."

On his website, West said Williams should apologize to the soldier, who's been held on gun and immigration charges by authorities in Tijuana since April 1 after he mistakenly crossed the border in his vehicle.

West said he was astounded by Williams' comment on "The O'Reilly Factor" that Tahmooressi, "an unlawfully detained combat-veteran Marine with PTSD," was unimportant.

During his show, O'Reilly was lamenting that the United States has lost its power, influence and prestige under President Barack Obama.

"Tahmooressi in prison, Mexicans not going to let him out," said O'Reilly. "Any president would have had him out based on humanitarian, he has post-traumatic stress disorder. Let him go, he can't get him out. Obama can't get them out."

Williams interrupted him, saying, "You are going off in the weeds here. Come on, that guy is not a serious issue. Let's get back to ISIS [the Islamic State], let's talk about global policy."

Tahmooressi, 26, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder after serving two tours in Afghanistan. He's currently a Marine reservist and was in southern California to receive VA treatment for his PTSD when he took a wrong turn into Mexico in his truck carrying three firearms legally registered in the United States.

West noted that Williams' controversial comment had "struck a serious nerve in the military community." He shared with his readers an email that a Marine had sent to O'Reilly, which he said "pretty much sums up the general emotions of the comments I've seen."

The email from Roger Herman, a former helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War, said, "Well, Juan, I've got news for you. Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi is a serious issue! And the current administration has done nothing to get him released."

"The Sgt. is 100 times the man that you could ever hope to become. He served his country doing two tours in Afghanistan. How many have you done? Well, I guess when you were in the service, you must have always served stateside What's that? Oh, you never served in the armed forces.

"That's right, you used to work for NPR before they fired you, and you ended up being a contributor on Fox News. I have seen you for years on TV and have come to the only conclusion possible. You are a complete fool!"

Herman continued, "You owe your freedom to selfless men such as Sgt. Tahmooressi and many more, some of whom never returned home alive. But all of this doesn't mean squat to a brain-dead, liberal talking head such as yourself.

"So, in closing, I will just ask you one question (often posed to others by O'Reilly), 'So, how are things in the land of Oz?'"

West concluded by saying, "Needless to say I think Juan Williams may need to issue a statement of apology — unless this is truly how he, President Obama, and the liberal left feel about Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi."